Guest guest Posted March 27, 2003 Report Share Posted March 27, 2003 Wed, 26 Mar 2003 13:50:05 -0500 HSI - Jenny Thompson Here's The Catch HERE'S THE CATCH Health Sciences Institute e-Alert March 26, 2003 ************************************************************** Dear Member, If you think you've heard everything on the subject of heartburn, acid reflux, and the pharmaceuticals that treat those problems, keep reading. Because I have some information about a popular acid reflux medication that has one insidious side effect that gives the users of this drug a very strong incentive to continue using it. In an e-Alert I sent you last year ( " Fire Down Below " 12/23/02), HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., told you how gastroesophageal problems can be easily and inexpensively treated in most cases by using acidophilus and digestive enzymes. That e-Alert struck such a deep nerve with members that, three months later, I'm still receiving responses. One of those responses arrived just last week from a member named Stuart who addressed his e-mail directly to Dr. Spreen. His comments, and Dr. Spreen's responses, provide unique insights into the dangers of heartburn drugs and just how complex digestion can be. ----------------------------- The trap ----------------------------- Stuart begins his e-mail with a success story about how he was able to slowly wean himself off the expensive acid reflux drug Prevacid by following Dr. Spreen's instructions. Needless to say, he was pleased with these results, but then a new problem started. Stuart writes: " I began getting a sharp pain on my left side near the stomach area when not taking the Prevacid. So I saw my gastro doctor and he said when people go off Prevacid, it causes some hardening of matter in the upper colon and thus the pain I was having. I also began getting hemorrhoids when going off the Prevacid. So now I am back to being a slave to the Prevacid but still taking the acidophilus and enzymes. " Amazing. Here's a drug that promises to solve problems, but then creates an additional dependence. I asked Dr. Spreen to comment on Stuart's e-mail, and here's his reply: " I had not heard of such a problem with Prevacid, but obviously the gastroenterologist has. Assuming that's true, it's sure another reason to try moving heaven and earth to avoid the stuff. " Hardening of the stool is a well-known cause of hemorrhoids. Usually that's due to the high intake of refined flour in the modern diet, which has no fiber and subsequently becomes a solid ball that the body has difficulty moving through the intestines. The normal wave-like motion (peristalsis) has no fiber to 'grab onto,' hence it works harder to get the fecal matter through, with the straining causing hemorrhoids (and possibly diverticulosis). It's always amazing to me how the 'simple' action of a single drug working on a solitary symptom so often tends to come with complications. " ----------------------------- The road back to digestive health ----------------------------- Dr. Spreen goes on to outline a suggested dietary plan for Stuart that includes good basic advice for just about everyone: " My first reaction would be to remove all (read that ALL) refined flour products from the diet, along with all refined sugar foods (using the word 'food' very loosely in this context). Even fruit juice I'd change to eating whole fruit (with edible skins), and instead, drinking only pure deep- well spring water. " The idea here is that whole foods carry along the natural fiber nature originally put in there to help the 'stuff' through the body. Pure water (not juice, coffee or Kool-Aid) helps keep things softened when added to the fiber that's supposed to be there. This does not remove 100% stone ground whole grain products (pastas, breads, etc.), but you'd have to make sure they are legitimately entirely whole grain. " ----------------------------- Cleaning up ----------------------------- In his e-mail, Stuart wondered if a good colon cleanser would be helpful in addressing the unpleasant side effect of the Prevacid. Dr. Spreen's response: " I am an advocate of colon cleansing. Whether it's done by different dietary means (juicing, fasting, etc.) or more drastic measures, there are many avenues that can get the job done. My favorite has been 'bowel tolerance vitamin C,' where increasing doses of vitamin C are taken until diarrhea is caused, flushing out the bowel's contents. Whatever way, I've run into too many people who've had too positive a response to shun the thought of bowel cleansing. Finding the way that fits your lifestyle and schedule is something else again! " ----------------------------- Beyond the treatment of symptoms ----------------------------- Dr. Spreen concludes his suggestions for Stuart with these comments: " Nutrient therapies are not always simple 'on-off,' 'black-or- white' situations. That's because, unlike drug therapies, we're trying to alter a symptom by truly correcting the cause (assuming we even know what it is), or at least establishing an environment within the body such that the body can begin its own repair. That makes such remedies more involved than a simple 'purple pill.' However, the reward is that, when you get a response, you know you are truly BETTER, not just covering up a symptom. " My thanks to Dr. Spreen for his careful consideration and insights into the specifics of Stuart's case, which serves as a caution to anyone who may be considering an expensive prescription drug therapy to address heartburn or acid reflux. Stuart closed his e-mail with this request: " If you know of a doctor I should see in the New York Metro area, please let me know. " As always with this sort of question I would recommend that Stuart contact the American College for the Advancement in Medicine at www.acam.org, 949-583-7666, or 1-800-532-3688. And with that Dr. Spreen agrees, noting that Stuart, or anyone else who pursues an alternate therapy, should seek consultation with a healthcare provider to weigh options and monitor progress. ************************************************************** ....and another thing How many people die each year due to adverse drug reactions (ADR)? In a recent e-Alert ( " Icebergs Ahead " 3/12/03) I told you that one estimate placed the answer to that question at around 227,000. That's pretty shocking. And members agreed, sending a number of e-mails requesting more information. A member identified as WFFM asked: " 227,000 pharmaceutical deaths - that's a lot...would you care to tell where you get that number? " And Mitch wrote: " Where did you acquire these statistics? I believe the number is much higher than this. " Mitch could be right, but there's no way of knowing exactly what the number is because not all ADR deaths are identified as pharmaceutical-related. In addition, Charles Bennet, (a Northwestern University hematologist who has researched adverse drug effects for many years) estimates that physicians report only one of every ten ADRs. Our source for the 227,000 deaths-per-year estimate came from the Wellness of Chicago Newsletter (no date or issue number - one of the pages on the Wellness of Chicago web site is simply titled " Newsletter " ). This report combines a number of different sources that examine deaths due to ADR. Analyzing numbers from a University of Toronto research project reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a 1998 study that appeared in the prestigious British journal Lancet, and a College of Pharmacy study from the Archives of Internal Medicine, Wellness of Chicago extrapolated the 227,000 figure, noting that it can be considered an approximation only. Naturally, from different sources you'll get different estimates. Whatever the actual number may be, without question it's very high. The JAMA study, for instance, pointed out that if their analysis was figured conservatively, the estimate might go as low as 76,000 deaths per year. That's the LOW estimate. At that rate, fatalities due to ADRs would be the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. - the equivalent of 190 jumbo jet crashes. Wellness of Chicago estimates that deaths due to herbal and dietary supplements number six or seven each year. Can you imagine the public uproar that would result if that number was anywhere near 76,000? I think it's safe to say that it wouldn't be tolerated. To Your Good Health, Jenny Thompson Health Sciences Institute ************************************************************** Sources: " Just Slightly More Than Six Deaths Per Year From Supplements Between 1989 and 1998 " Wellness of Chicago Newsletter, wellnessofchicago.com/newsletter " Preaching To An Absent Parish " Rabiya S. Tuma, BioMedNet News, 12/10/02 Copyright ©1997-2003 by www.hsibaltimore.com, L.L.C. The e-Alert may not be posted on commercial sites without written permission. ************************************************************** Before you hit reply to send us a question or request, please click here http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealert/questions.html ************************************************************** ************************************************************** If you'd like to participate in the HSI Forum, search past e-Alerts and products or you're an HSI member and would like to search past articles, visit http://www.hsibaltimore.com ************************************************************** To learn more about HSI, call (203) 699-4416 or visit http://www.agora-inc.com/reports/HSI/WHSIC313/home.cfm. ************************************************************** Gettingwell- / Vitamins, Herbs, Aminos, etc. To , e-mail to: Gettingwell- Or, go to our group site: Gettingwell Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.